Drubbing then a scrubbing
Experienced pair Joshua Taylor and Johnson Slotemaker are all but certain to miss the once-in-a-lifetime clash with an A-League club after copping red cards on Saturday in Cairns FC’s 6-0 trouncing at the hands of Lions FC. Striker Taylor was sent packing early in the second half for using foul language while Slotemaker saw red close to full time after appearing to clip a Lions player with his hand after their sixth goal.
EXPERIENCED pair Joshua Taylor and Johnson Slotemaker are all but certain to miss the once-in-a-lifetime clash with an A-League club after copping red cards on Saturday in Cairns FC’s 6-0 trouncing at the hands of Lions FC.
Star striker Taylor was sent packing early in the second half for using foul language while Slotemaker saw red near on full time after appearing to clip a Lions player with his hand following their sixth goal.
The red cards earn the duo automatic two-game suspensions, ruling them out for the marquee Round of 16 FFA Cup clash against heavyweights Sydney FC next Tuesday.
Cairns FC will appeal both bans and has also found an unlikely ally in Lions boss Warren Moon, who said postmatch he would go to Football Queensland to try have Taylor’s the ban overturned.
“It is unfortunate what Josh said because it is a mandate by Football Queensland that if you say that word, it is a straight red card,” Moon said.
“But we will do whatever we can to see that it can be downgraded to one game because it was not malicious or intended towards any of our players.
Moon said “no player deserves to miss an occasion like” playing Sydney FC.
“He made a mistake and it was not intended at anyone,” the Lions boss said of Taylor.
But Moon is unlikely to go into bat for Slotemaker, saying his Lions striker had a “big red lump on his nose” from the swinging arm.
Cairns FC coach Danny Graystone felt the second red card was harsh.
“The footage will show that there was no contact and in my opinion, the player fell to the floor in an attempt to get my player sent off,” Graystone said.
“That is really disappointing and they should not be behaving in that manner as a top of the table side. There was no contact there.”
The three points for Lions FC put them one point away from clinching the 2018 NPL title.
Cairns rested much of their starting contingent, with their vital FFA Cup clash with Sydney FC just over a week away, and it showed as the visitors dominated for 90 minutes.
The men in orange fell behind early and Jheison Macuace made it 2-0 shortly after with a spectacular bicycle kick goal.
Lions added four more in the second half to seal the 6-0 rout to push them further ahead of the chasing pack in the NPL title race.
Cairns youngster Zeca Soares came off with a hamstring injury in the second half.
Graystone brought up a number of players up from the local FNQ Football League to help fill the gaps of the rested senior players.